Indicating device



May 26, 1931. c. POKORA v 1,807,172

INDIGATIIIG asvrcz Filed Npv. 5, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 15044, 0 BY 1 v-M Arromvsw May 26; 1931.

c.. POKORA 1,807,172 INDICATIIG DEYICE I Filed Nov? 5. 1923 3 shoets sheet 3 INVENTOR. (4m dwna,

BYW M TTORNEYJ Fatented 26, 1%3? attain EHARLES PG-KGRA, Q3? MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN ENDICA'IING- DEVICE Application filed November 5, 1928. Serial No. 317,440.

This invention relates toimprovements in is compact in form, eflicient in operation, and

indicating devices.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide an improved indicating device, a particularly adapted for use upon typewriters which is provided with means for automatically sounding a warning when the bottom of the sheet is being approached.

It is a further object of this inventon to provide a device of the class described in which cam means engageable with a platen of the typewriter is provided for simultaneously sounding the warning at the proper time and for resetting the device in readiness for'the next sheet of paper.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an indicating device which may be readily adapted for use upon any of the standard makes of typewriters.

A further object of this invention is to provide an indicating device having adjustment means for varying the distance from the bottom of the sheet at which the Warning will be sounded.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide an indicating device in which a roller on the end of a feeler and detector arm,

normally resting upon the sheet of paper,

is adapted to drop into a recess when the end of the sheet is reached, the said movement of the arm in dropping into the recess, operatto release a draw rod and to cause a. gong operating and resetting cam to engage the platenof the typewriter.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the class described in which the feeler arm may be held in inoperative position when desired, and in which the entire device may be readily moved to an outof-the-way position on the typewriter when its use is not necessary.

A further object of this invention is 'to provide an indicating device in which the feeler arm and its mechanism are provided with a guard which serves as a casing, as a. guide for the sheet both above and below, and as a means for lifting the feeler arm.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device'of the class described which well adapted for the purpose described.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved indicating device, and all its parts and combinaca tions as set forth in the claims and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings in which the same reference characters designate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. l is a plan view of a portion of a typewriter with the improved indicating device in attachment therewith;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the means for connecting the end of the gong to the device;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view showing the adjustable securing means for theend of the spring;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view of the feeler arm guard; j

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the cam in a position of engagement with the platen, the dotted lines indicating various operating positions of the parts;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary View of a of the mechanism shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a View similar to F i 8 showing the position of the parts when t e cam is in a platen engaging position;

ig. 10 is a sectional view taken on line 10--1O of Fig. 2;

Fig. 11 is a detail, broken away view, showingthe draw rod adjustment;

ig. 12 is a sectional view taken on line 12-42 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a side view showing amodified form of indicating device;

Fig. 14 is a detail, broken away view illustrating a modified form of bracket;

Fig. 15 is a detail View of a portion of the gong hammer arm; and I Fig. 16' is a detail view of the rearof the modified form of bracket shown inFig. 14.

Referring to the drawings, the numer'al 15 designates a portion of a typewriter, and the portion the indicating device instead of slipping be-' neath the same.

Brackets 23 and 24 for supporting a rod 25,'extend rearwardly from the sides ofthe typewriter. The bracket 24 is offset to the left'to provide a space on the rod 25 at the left of the machine, to which the indicating device may be moved when it is not in use. 1 The rod 25 is formed with a longitudinal groove 25 therein. i Y

The frame of the indicating device proper is angular in shape, and comprises a side portion 26, and lower supporting plate 27. Both of the portions 26 and 27p'roject downwardly in the rear, as at 28 and 29 respectively. Secured to the depending position 29 is a bracket 30 having a pair of outwardly extending portions 3lformed with openings 32. Within the latter openings, the rod 25 of the typewriter is adapted to extend to secure the device to the type-writer. The openings 32 have slots 33 extending rearwardly' therefrom (see Fig. 14). Extending between these slots is a small rod 34which is forced into the groove 25 of the typewriter rod 25 by a band spring 35 to yieldingly hold the device against rotation upon the rod 25.

' a If it is desired to swing the device upwardly on the rod,'the spring 35 will give, and permit the small rod 34 to disengage the groove 25'. Lateral movement of the indicating device, to properly position it' i for variou widths of paper, is permitted by the longitudinal groove 25'.

In the modified form of bracket illustrated in Fig. 14, the brackethas screws 36 extending therefrom which extend through oval openings 36' in the portion 29 of the frame of the device. Nuts 37 are threaded on the screws on each side' of the frame portion 29, and by adjusting the latter, the indicating device may be positioned properly with relation to the platen. This feature is very advantageous in that it permits the use of the device on various makes of typewriters, as it may be readily adjusted to each particular machine. The oval openings'36 permit raising and lowering the device.

Referring to Figs. 21, 7 8 and 9, the side portion 26- is formed with a: longitudinally and obliquely extending slot 38 with which a rectangular recess 39, extending downplate or rear paper table 21 of the wardly from the upper edge of the device, communicates. Extending inwardly from the side 26, above the slot 38, is a recess 40.

W'ithin the recess 38 is a slidable draw rod 41, having an outer end 42 of diminished size, forming the male portion of the draw rod (see Fig. 11). The said male portion is formed with a plurality of perforations 43. The male' portion of the draw rod fits within an opening 44, in a female portion 45. The said female portion hasan upwardly extending portion 46 positioned within the opening 39 of the frame, formed with a vertical opening 47 communicating with the opening 44. The opening 47 has its lower portion of less diameter than the upper portion, forming a shoulder 48 within the opening. The upper end of the portion'46 is formed with a cut away portion leaving a projection 49. A locking member 50, having a knurled head 51, and having a coil spring 52, attached thereto and surrounding its medial portion, fits within the opening 47, the lower end of the coil spring resting on the shoulder 48 of the opening. The locking member is further formed, near its upperend, with a lug 53 projecting laterally therefrom. Downward pressure upon the locking member will cause its lower end to'engage one of the perfora-' tions 43 in the'male portion of the draw rod to lock the female portion thereto. By turning the locking member, the lug 53' will slip beneath the projection 49 and hold the locking member in position (see Fig. 12). By

having the locking member engage different perforations in the male portion of the draw groove 60. The upper end of the member 58 is formed with an extension 61 and with a lug 62. A stop member 63 is provided adjacent the me'mber'58. Toward the middle of the draw rod is a finger 64, extending obliquely therefrom and having an inwardly bent end portion which is adapted to engage the groove 60 in the member 58, as shown in Figs.

7 and 9 A bell-lever tripping lug 65 is secured to the female portion of the draw rod.

Within the recess 40, in the side 26, is a pivoted cam member 66, formed with a recess 67 in its lower side, and engaged by a spring 4 .68. The recess 67 is adapted to receive a lug 69 extending from the draw rod to hold the latter rod in set position. Pivoted .to the side 26, on a shaft 70, adjacent the recess 40 and partially covering the same, is an outer cam 70. The said cam has a pin 71 extending into the recess and engaging the end of the cam 66 to trip the same.

Rigidly secured to the outer side of the cam 5 70 is an angular shaped member 72, the lower end of which is adapted to engage the projection 62 OIlrthG member 58, to free said member from the finger 64 and to allow it to fall to the osition shown in Figs. 2 and 8. A spring 3, having one end connected to the frame and positioned within a recess 74 (see Fig. 10) has its other end secured to the draw rod. The end of the cam 70 is adapted to engage a member 75 (see Fig. 10) which is pivoted to the side portion 26, to disen age the cam at its lowest point from the pfaten when the latter is reversed.

A gong hammer 76, which is pivoted to the frame above the draw rod, is engaged by a spring 77. A projecting member 7? 8, which pivots outwardly from the hammer has one side formed with an inwardly extending bevel 78', and has its outer edge engaged by a spring 79. The straight side of the member 78 is adapted to be engaged by the projection when the draw rod is being moved in a direction away from theplaten, to raise the hammer, as shown in Fig. 7, to cause a gong 80 to be sounded. When the draw rod springs back toward the platen, the projection 65 will engage the bevel on the member 78 and cause the same to pivot to permit the lug 65 to pass.

The gong 80 is formedby a coil of wire having one end secured to an extension 81 from the side 26. The said extension is integral with a section of metal which is set in the frame as shown in Fig. 3, and which is separated from the frame proper by a section of babbitt 82, the latter lending a clearer tone to the gong.

Referring to Figsd and 8, whichdllustrate the other side of the device, it will be seen that the shaft 70, upon which the cam T0 is mounted, is journaled through the frame, and ishent around on the other side to form an arm 83. A hub portion 84 surrounds said arm adjacent the frame. A spring 85 is coiled about the hub and has one end engaging the arm to normally hold it in a down position. The other end of the spring is ormed with a head 86, which is adapted to tit inone of the openings 87 as shown in Fig. 5. By employing difierent openings, the tension of the spring may be varied. The lower end 88 of the arm bifurcated to receive a rotatably mounted is adapted to fit within a recess 90 in the frame portion 21.

'A housing 91 for the arm 83 comprises a pair of plates 92 and 93 having curved ends which are hinged to ether as at 94 to hold the plates in space apart relation. The plate 93 has one edge bent upwardly to form 55 a side piece 95. The said side piece is prorhller 89. The roller 89.

vided with an oval opening 96 through which the shaft extends. A spring member 97, having its free end engaging the hub 84:, holds the housing in a-forward position.

Rotatably mounted between the side piece 95 of the housing and an extension 98, is a roller 99 provided with aratchet wheel 100. The said ratchet wheel is adapted to be engaged by dogs 101 and 102, the said dogs being held yieldingly by springs 103 and 104C. The dog 102 is provided with an extension 105 engaging a pin 106 projecting from the side of the frame. The plate 95 is also formed with a recess 107 (see Fig. 6) which is adapted to engage the pin 106 when the housing 91 is pushed rearwardly against the tension of the spring 97, to maintain the housing in said rearward position.

The side of the device shown in Fig. 2 may be provided with a suitable shown) to protect the parts.

housing (not In the modified form of device illustrated in Fig. 13 the majority of the parts are similar to those in the principal form. The locking member 50, however, extends from the female portion of the draw rod on the outside oi the frame. Said member is formed with a lower end 50 which has a rectangular opening throughwhich the male portion of the draw rod extends. The said male portion is formed with a pluralit of notches 43,

which are adapted tohe se ectively engaged by the lower end of the locking'memher 50 to adjust the length of the draw rod.

'. A further difierence in the modified form resides in the substitution or a ball 80 in place of the gong. The said bell is adapted to be engaged by a hammer 16 mounted on a member 76 pivoted to the frame. A The memher 7 6 is provided with a projection 76" and with a pivoted dog ?6 Pivoted to the frame above the member ?6 is an arm 80' ion having ratchetteeth on its lower end. When the arm 80' is moved by reason of the pin 65 on the draw rod engaging a projection on its upper end, on the back stroke of said arm 80 the ratchet'teeth engage thedog 7 6" and cause the member 76 to vibrate" up and down ringing the bell. The said bell construction gives a sustained ring which differentiated from the bell now on typewriters for indicating the end of a line.

may be easily The "operation of the devicev isas f ll The sheet of paper to placed in the machine as shown in Fig. 1, the paper passing beneath the roller 89,011 the arm 83. The various parts of the device are in the positions shownin Fig.2, with the exception oft-he fact that the-finger 64 is in engagement with the member 58. The roller 89 is raised slightly abovethe paper because of the fact that the finger 64 being in engagement with the member 58 causes said member to hold the cam 70' in a raised Fig. 7), the cam-in turn, through the shaft be written upon is position (see platen engages the roller 99 (see Fig. 4), and

in View of the fact that said roller is held against rotation because of the dog 10.1 engagingthe ratchet 100 .the roller 99 and the guard,

are raised upwardly, the lower plate 93 of the guard raising the arm 83 and roller 89. This in turn raises the cam 7 O on the other side of the device causing the end of the member 72 to engage the projection 62 on the member 58, to disengage the latter from the finger 64.

The member 58 will then drop from the position shown in Fig. 9 to the position shown in Fig. 8, and upon turning the platen in a for ward. direction, the roller 99 and guard 95 will be lowered, the roller being held against rotation by the engagement of the dog 102 engaging the ratchet 100 until the end of the dog is raisedby engagement with the pin 106. During this operation the cam 7 0 is permitted to fall slightly and the arm 83 androller 89 to fall and engage the paper. The only thing I as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 7, resultfco preventing the cam 7 0' from dropping further is the fact that the paper prevents the roller 89 and arm 83 from dropping intothe recess 90, and as the cam 70 and arm 83 are ment of the cam 70 is dependent upon movement of the roller arm 83 and vice versa.

When the portion of the paper upon which the typing is being done is within 2 2, 1 1, or inch from the bottom of the sheet, according to the adjustment of draw rod, the bottom of the sheet will clear the roller 89 and allow it to fall into the recess 90 as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 4. This movement of the'roller 89 causes the cam 70 on the other side to drop. In so doing, the pin 71, extending inwardly from the cam engages the small cam 66 withinthe recess 40, and causes the cam to pivot so that the projection 69 on the draw rod is released from the recess 67 in the cam 66. This allows the spring 73 to pull the draw rod from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position; shown in Fig. 7, the cam engaging the platen of the typewriter. Upon further rotation of the platen, as the typist progresses, the cam will ride on the platen and rotate on its pivot as shown by the dotted lines in Fig.7. This will cause the draw rod to be forced rearwardly against the tension of the spring'7 3, and it will cause the lug 65 on the draw rod to engage the member 78 on the hell hammer arm 76 to trip said hammer arm,

ing in thesounding of the gong. The gong 'Jlll give a different sound fromthat produced by the margin bell on the typewriter, so

it may be readily distinguished therefrom.

i When-the draw rod has been forced to the limit of its rearward movement, the projection 69 will engage the recess 67 1n the small both rigidly secured to the shaft 70, move-.

cam 66 to hold the draw rod in said rearward position ready for the next sheet of paper.

The finger 64 is now in engagement with the groove in the member 58, holding said member up, its end portion 61 having engaged the cam 7 O to raise the latter and the the lug on the draw rod will be nearer or further away from the member 78 on the hammer arm. The closer the lug 65 is to the member 78, the sooner the alarm will be sounded, and the larger the margin left at the bottom of the sheet. By employing a larger or smaller platen engaging cam, the limits in the size of the margin may be varied.

If his not desired to use the indicating device, it may be moved laterally on the rod 25 to the extreme left, where it will be in an outof-the-way position. If it is desired to merely prevent the device from operating, the housing 91 carrying the roller 99 may be moved rearwardly until the pin 106 engages the recess 107 in the sides of tlfe housing 95 to hold said housing in the'rearward' position as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 6.

The plate 92 of the housing 91 forms a guide for the upper portion of the sheet of paper and prevents it from interfering with the mechanism. The lower -plate 93 serves as a similar guide for the lower portion of the sheet.

It may readily be seen that by attaching thespecial brackets 17 with the rods 19 and'25, that the indicating device may be adapted for use upon any standard make of typewriter i and may be easily attached to any of the maizihines as they arejnow placed upon the marf et. V g f." From the foregoing description it may' be' seen that the improved indicating device is I efiicient in" operation and well adapted for the purpose described.

What I claim is: 1. An indicating device for a mzfchinehaving a rotatable paper holding member, comprising a frame, means in connection with end of a sheet of pa er, signalling mechanism mounted on sai frame and under the control of said detecting means, and attachnected having a portion connection with said frame, adapted-to be device for a machine havsaid frame for;detecting the passage of the mg means to which the frame is movably conadapted to extend beyond the sides of the machine to permit the engaging arm inobstructed in its movement by the paper, a slidable member in said frame, yielding means normally holding said slidable member toward the rotatable paper holding member, operating means on said slidable member adapted to engage the rotatable paper holding member, means for holding said slidable member and operating means away from said paper holding member against the tension of said yielding means, means between said paper engaging arm and said slidable member for releasing the latter when the bottom of the sheet of paper has released said paper engaging arm, signalling mechanism, and means on the slidable member for operating said signalling mechanism when the operating member and slidable member have been moved away from the rotatable paper holding member due to contact of the operating member therewith, while the paper holding memher is being rotated.

3. An indicating device for a typewriter having a platen, comprising a frame, a sheet engaging arm pivoted to said frame, an operating member in connection with said frame and normally engageable with the platen, meansnfor holdin said arm in a raised position and for hol ing said operating member out of engagement with the platen, means operated by retraction of the platen for freeing said arm to permit the same to engage the sheet, said arm upon passage of the end of the sheet being adapter to free said operating member and to cause the latter to engage the platen, signalling mechanism, and means between said operating member and said signalling mechanism for o crating the latter when said operating mem or is moved upon rotation of the platen.

4. An indicating device for a machine having a rotatable paper holding member, comprising an arm at the rear of the platen for detecting the passage of the end of a sheet of paper, an operating member actuated by the rotatable paper holding member under control of the detecting arm, signalling ,mechanism called into 0 eration throu h said operating member, an a guard for said detecting arm to guide the paper both above and below said detecting arm to and from the platen.

5. An indicating device for a machine having a rotatable paper holding member comprisin a pivote arm for detecting the passage o the end of asheet of paper, a. guard pivoted adjacent said arm, means on said guard engageable with the rotatable paper holding member and adapted upon retraction thereof to raise said arm to permit the paper to be moved in a reverse direction, an operatin member actuated by the rotatable paper he ding member under the control of the detecting arm, and signalling mechanism called into operation through said operating member.

6. An indicating device for a machine havmg a rotatable paper holding member comprising a pivoted arm for detecting the passage of the end of a sheet of paper, a guard pivoted adjacent said arm, means on said guard engageable with the rotatable paper holding member and adapted upon retraction thereof to raise said arm to permit the paper to be moved in a reverse direction, means providing for movement of said guard to a position out of engagement with the rotatable paper holding member, an operating member actuated by the rotatable paper holding member under the control of the detecting arm, and signalling mechanism called into operation through said operating mem- 7. An indicating device for a machine hav-' ing .a rotatable paper holding member compr sing a frame, means on said frame for detecting the passage of the end of a sheet of paper, an operating member in connection with the frame actuated by the rotatable paper holding member under control of the detecting means, and signalling mechanism called into operation through said operating membensaid signalling mechanism comprlsin a support secured to the frame, a section 0 babbitt between said support andthe frame, a gong extending from said support, and a hammer for sounding said gong.

8. An indicating device for a machine having a rotatable paper holding member and having a back plate comprising a frame. means in connection with said frame for detecting the passage of the end of a sheet of paper, signalling mechanism mounted on said frame and under control of the detecting means, a pair of brackets attachable to the sides of the machine, and a rod connect ing said brackets, the indicating device being movably connected to said rod and be-- ing' positioned on the back plate of the machine.

9. An indicating device for a machine having a rotatable paper holding member and having a back late comprising a frame, means in connection with said frame for de-- testing the passage of the end of a sheet of paper, signalling mechanism mounted on said frame and under control of the detecting means, a pair of brackets attachable to the sides of the machine, and a rod connecting said brackets and extending below the bee plate, the indicatin device being movably connected to said re and being positioned on the back plate of the machine.

10. An indicating device for a machine having a rotatable paper-holding member comprisin a frame, means on said frame for detecting t e passage of the end of a sheet oi paper, an operating member in connection with the frame, actuated by the rotatable paper-holding member under thecontrol of the detecting means, and signalling mechanism called into 0 eration through said operating member, said signalling mechanism comprising a support secured to the frame, a section of material having tone enhancing qualities positioned between said support and the frame, a gong extending from said support and a hammer for sounding said gong.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

CHARLES POKORA. 

